Chapter 43: Business & Pleasure

Elijah looked slightly baffled at Hayley's instruction, his smooth dark brows furrowing in response as he looked over at her questioningly. At this glance, he found that her pink lips were tightly pursed and her intriguing eyes were deeply in the midst of calculating something as although she looked back at him, her eyes were instead staring into the mid-distance. He realised the sudden command was all too serious and so he reached to the top button of his shirt and swiftly unbuttoned the article so that it splayed open.

Hayley's attention diverted and she nervously bit her nail lightly before dropping her hands to her sides and moving closer. Her heart rate had automatically increased slightly, fluttering much like her eyelashes at the sight of Elijah's almost bare chest. This was as though her eyes raked the contours of his smooth but firm skin, she also found herself exploring several more names inked across his torso. The letters were in black, an italic sprawled hand. It was one thing seeing him topless but Hayley was adamant on not allowing her thoughts to wonder, not too much at least for there was work to be done.

Elijah's eyes fell to her fixed gaze and he himself fell into thought himself intrigued at the names inked upon his skin.

"Brin Deveraux." He then whispered noticing that that was the name upon which Hayley's heart had thudded just a little bit louder and she now looked up on hearing him speak. Their eyes met and they both communicated a sense of hope and curiosity and mutual need to discover and solve.

"She's the witch who executed the curse on my family Elijah." Hayley confessed not wanting to hold back so much information from him. Her hand unconsciously hovered over to the name and traced it. Elijah inhaled softly but listened carefully trying to not feel too distracted by the feel of her sweet fingertips soothing his skin. Hayley then stroked the name with her thumb once more as she softly breathed and Elijah's inner yearnings for her decided to somersault. She had that way with him; it was so easy to get lost in a moment. Elijah raised his hand softly and clasped hers wondering what had caused her to look up again with a big eyed stare. She damped her lips and then bit it softly as if to apologise and he smiled at her unable to stop himself from pecking her lips.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed and she spun around facing away and began speaking again and Elijah watched and listened. She then stopped in her tracks and Elijah neared her wondering what the matter was. She then turned slightly nervously and twiddled her thumbs before curling a piece of hair behind her ear.

"It's the information Sophie gave me in return for..." Hayley trailed and looked up at Elijah recalling the anger in his eyes that she had brought about when making the traitorous decision to hand over his lost lover's bones. She found that even though she had had her reasons, it still felt so very wrong. Knowing her own past and the absence of love which mingled through her timeline meant the idea of Elijah's loss scared her greatly. She thought now about Jackson and considered telling him about her betrothal but remained mute, swallowing in attempt to block the memory.

Would he leave me? She thought at the back of her mind and then secretly hoped that Elijah would not be so quick to sacrifice their love for her wolves.

But he would, wouldn't he. She thought anxiety beginning to flutter like a new born bird's flapping wings.

He'll make me go...

Hayley then shook her head and bit her lip firmly.

One task at a time Hayley. She told herself. One task at a time.

Elijah on observing her was quick to read her thoughts, though Hayley of course would have begged to differ. Regardless, Elijah's next look was firm. He swiftly pulled her towards him and spoke to her with resolution while stroking her hair swiftly away from her face.

"I have long forgiven you Hayley." He spoke sternly searching softly in those deep eyes for whatever it was that was bothering her.

"Celeste was my past."

"You are my now." He breathed and Hayley sighed with a deep exhaling breath. She secretly felt sort of relieved that he'd used the term "now" instead of "future". She guessed that they were both aware that with their lives the "future" was just a little bit more uncertain that for the average person. Nonetheless, she then slid her arms tightly around his waist and impulsively guided him backward before pushing him back onto the bed. She peeled off the shirt completely now and suddenly kissed him full on the mouth in a slow wave of bliss, allowing her hands to travel down the bare contours of his breast. Elijah obliged holding her too him and breathing deeply as she finally managed to let go. He pressed his forehead firmly against hers and hummed with his eyes closed, softly breathing in her scent.

"We need to find out what these names are Elijah." She then spoke a little breathlessly falling back on track and clambering off the bed. Elijah watched her and his expression became grave once again. However Hayley then soothed her belly softly as she felt her daughter squirm inside of her and Elijah face broke in a smile full with adoration.

"How is she?" he asked impulsively and she knew he was referring to his niece. Hayley placed a hand over her bump and jolted softly. Elijah's eyes flashed with concern but then calmed as he heard Hayley's sweet chuckle.

"I think she means business." Hayley smiled down at her bump and rubbed the spot where her littlest wolf had kicked. Elijah sat up eagerly and smiled.

"Do you want to feel her?" Hayley found the words rolling off her tongue. She hadn't had much baby time lately with everything that was going on and as a new mother it was something she secretly craved. Klaus had never asked, in fact they barely spoke and although she often was glad of his indifference and coldness; it equally as often saddened her. She never knew with Klaus unlike Elijah's constant protectiveness and stability Klaus was all too unpredictable. One second he had no care in the world and in the other he was genuinely apologetic and concerned. But he was the father of her child and she couldn't help but want him to be a good parent to their daughter. But Klaus? As a parent. She thought and her hope fizzled a little but she knew one thing for sure. They had to find him. Klaus and Rebekah had to be saved.

Elijah neared her cautiously. The idea of new life fascinated him and he respected the process of motherhood with all his might. Hayley was a wonder and his body rang with the duty to protect whenever he was around her, around them; it always had, right from the very moment he set eyes on her. Further, the fact that he was condemned as a vampire to never father a child caused the slightest thought of a beloved niece to make his heart swell up with hope. Hayley smiled reassuringly at Elijah's hesitance. She picked up his hand and placed it upon her belly and Elijah waited with anticipation, his every vampire sense tuning into to hear the little baby beneath his palm.

And then he felt it. A sharp kick and his heart jolted with the same force. A powerful feeling rushed over him and he found himself break into a hearty laugh. "She's a kicker alright." He exclaimed and Hayley smiled brightly. Elijah then found himself thinking of his tough little brother and his face grew serious. "We have to find them Hayley. And soon" he spoke gravely and she nodded with the same concern.

"But Elijah somehow I don't think those names are just to do with my wolves. It's more. We're both involved." She thought aloud, curling her brown lock of hair around her ear and reading the names again to herself.

"Do any come to mind?" she asked looking up as Elijah watched her intently and thought to himself.

"Not particularly" he replied but I feel Marcel will be of great assistance, he spoke getting to his feet. He slipped his hand into Hayley's and tugged her gently up, she wobbled a little with the momentum of the bump but he supported her subtly.

"And I think you're right. This has Celeste, (he hissed her name), written all over it." He mused.

"I'm going to need a list of the names Hayley." He then requested politely, feeling a piece of her hair lovingly as he took out his phone to dial Marcel. Hayley obliged promptly as Elijah explained the situation to Marcel. She explored his body mentally noting down every soft muscle along with each name when suddenly she saw them tense.

"They're Celeste" Elijah breathed in realisation. "They have to be."

Hayley looked at him confused. They had already established that Celeste was involved so what more did he mean.

"I believe the names are of all the women Celeste has inhabited in the past." He turned to Hayley, whose eyes has now widened, her eye brows raised.

"But that means..." Hayley then stared back.

"Surely that means Celeste executed the curse on my pack." She breathed with new found hope.

Elijah nodded.

"That bitch." Hayley then suddenly flared and Elijah grabbed her wrist as Marcel continued to speak. Elijah then cut the phone.

"We cannot make a single mistake. My siblings are at risk and suffering horribly. We must control our anger Hayley." He then explained soothingly cupping the side of Hayley face to melt her feisty glare.

"The names on my body are called a deviette. It's a type of puzzle. A game...and oh how she loves to play games." He hissed.

"When we solve it, they should disappear. I believe this is our clue to finding Klaus and Rebekah." He stared at her eagerly.

"And to discover a cure for your wolves." He added squeezing her hand.

Hayley nodded.

"Better get researching on those names then." Hayley announced getting up from the bed and quickly tying her wavy hair into a messy pony tail. Elijah watched her in the mirror slightly amused and knew she meant business. Even wearing a maternity outfit and carrying an unborn child couldn't kill that fire of determination inside of her and he loved her for it.

She grabbed a towel and headed for Elijah's shower and he watched her carefully. The confidence in her every move alerted his every sense. He gripped the sheet of paper and headed for the computer determined to solve the Celeste's riddle and as Hayley sighed in the slowly steaming room he felt his palms twitch.